Places of interest in the centre of Bruneck

Bruneck - a lively small town on a human scale. Brimming with history at its heart, with natural and rural surroundings, Bruneck is varied! An enormous variety of leisure activities, easy hospitality, the mountains of the Dolomites and Zillertal Alps and the combination of urban cultural history and agricultural customs increase the fascination of a stay in the "Pearl of the Puster Valley".

Built at the start of the 15th century in the Gothic style, the frescoes in the church are by Johannes of Bruneck and date from around 1420. The crypt of the Ursuline Church is the oldest part of the entire cloister building and dates from the period around 1410; the crypt space is almost empty, but hugely atmospheric - sanctified by centuries of the silence of the dead.

War Cemetery (2)

The 77 Italian soldiers who were once buried here were reburied in 1932 in the newly built mausoleum in Pocòl; the same is true of the 45 German soldiers, who were reburied in the cenotaph on the Pordoi Pass.

On the castle mount, this church was remodelled in the Baroque style in 1675, and has a beautiful onion dome with interesting coats of arms

Stadtgasse (5)

The picturesque Stadtgasse is predominantly medieval in character and has four town gates and interesting frescoes. The eastern gate "Raintor or Unterttainertor" (6.) leads into the Oberstadt district of the town (7.), which is dominated by the Sternbach Palace (8.). The Oberstadt is also home to the Mariensäule, a work by the Brixen artist Michael Rasner (1661-1725), which was endowed in 1716 by Anton von Wenzl, Baron von Sternbach.

With a valuable crucifix by Michael Pacher and the Mathis organ, which was refurbished in 1983, the largest in South Tyrol. In Mühlgasse, near the Parish Church there is a fresco.

Town Museum (10)

The town museum for graphic arts was opened in 1995 in the restored, converted postal stables, in which in earlier centuries the horses were fed and watered and the postal coaches stood ready for travellers.

Beautiful, renovated Baroque church, built in the mid 14th century. Baroque depiction of the baptism of Christ by Franz Unterberger (1707-1776)

Capuchin Church (12)

The Capuchin monastery (since 1626) and the Capuchin Church; they are kept very simply, in line with the principles of the order.

Continuing along the Dantestrasse, at the road junction to Dietenheim you will find one of the oldest and most beautiful shrines in Tyrol.

The Floriani Gate (13)

Once known as "Lucke" (or hole), the gate carries a painting by the South Tyrolean painter Rudolf Stolz (1874-1960) which shows Saint Florian, the Bruneck coat of arms and the town's founding bishop, Bruno. In Florianigasse, St. Florian, a work by the Bruneck artist Josef Bachlechner (1871-1923) can be seen.

The Graben

Eduard von Grebmer was born in 1821 in Bruneck. He was elected mayor in 1861, and became a deputy in both the Vienna parliament and the Tyrolean regional assembly. In 1869 the king appointed him governor of Tyrol. He died in 1875; just a few years later the citizens of Bruneck erected a monument in the "Graben" for him in thanks for his services to both the town and the entire region.

The Works of Michael Pacher

Michael Pacher, one of the most significant artists of the late Gothic period in Austria, is believed to have been born near Bruneck. This is where the "Maister Michael maler zu Braunegk" (Michael the master, painter of Bruneck) had his workshop and where numerous works of art were produced.

The Earth Pyramids in Percha - Several hundred years ago there was a landslide caused by a storm, which cut off the existing cart track between the Thalerhof and Aschbach. It would have been easy to fill in the gap with earth, but nobody did it, as the route was not an important one. In 1882 there was again a great storm, and a large trench formed... ´

Gais Church is one of the oldest and most interesting Romanesque country churches in the whole of Tyrol. Despite many later alterations, fundamentally the church has retained its original Romanesque form.

Neuhaus Castle

The history of Neuhaus is very varied. The castle was built between 1241 and 1248 and to the present day has had many different owners. The church that belongs to it dating from the 17th century (St Mary of the Visitation) is of interest.

Kulturweg.Gais (Gais Culture Trail) runs along the boundary stream to Neuhaus Castle and is an inviting place in which to meditate and linger for a while. Works have been installed by various artists along the way in honour of the important figures who once lived and worked in Gais.

The Fire Helmet Museum in Gais counts over 700 exhibition pieces from all over the world. These include many collector's items in leather and metal, from Egypt, Thailand and Guatemala, as well as many other countries.